Automatic analyzer

ABSTRACT

The automatic analyzer relating to the invention is characterized in that since drive and control of the automatic analyzer and storage of the measuring data are realizable on the IC card, operability of such kind of automatic analyzer is sharply simplified, the system can be miniaturized substantially to a low cost, moreover, in case the automatic analyzer gets damaged, portion and cause of the damage can be found easily and quickly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an automatic analyzer operating automaticallyfor biochemical analysis and immunological analysis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various kinds of automatic analyzers have been proposed. However, manyof the recent automatic analyzers are rather complicated, large-sized,high-cost and high-speed operating, and moreover, involve an exceedinglycomplicated operation, and therefore a specialized operator must beattendant thereon all the time, and personnel expenses are a problem.

This kind of large-sized automatic analyzer is not always required bylocal hospitals and clinics where a large amount of blood examination isnot necessary, and in such circumstances a specialized examinationcenter is requested to carry out blood examination of respectivepatients.

Consequently, where an urgent examination is required, an inconveniencemay result in such local hospitals and clinics, a waste of money isquite unavoidable, and moreover, in case work for comparing an analysiswith the patient's blood or reexamination is required, a long time willbe needed for obtaining a result.

This invention has been made in view of the situation described above,and its object is to provide a simple automatic analyzer, miniaturizedto cope with a need by local hospitals and clinics, which is very simplein operation and construction, and moderate in cost.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the automatic analyzerrelating to the invention comprises a means for moving a plurality ofsamples to a sample sucking position, a means for sucking apredetermined quantity of sample at the sample sucking position andpouring the predetermined quantity into a reaction cell, a means formoving the reaction cell to an optical measuring position, a means forpouring a reagent corresponding to a charactristic to be measured intothe reaction cell, a means for moving a reagent container in which thereagent corresponding to a characteristic to be measured is contained toa reagent sucking position, a means for measuring a sample in thereaction cell optically, a means for washing the reaction cell aftercompletion of the measurement, an IC card storing various startingcommand signals and measurement data, a reader/writer for readingcommand signals of the IC card and writing the measurement data.

In the invention, the IC card comprises a starting IC card in whichcommand signals for actuating and controlling a sample moving means, asampling means, a reaction cell moving means, a reagent pouring means,an optical measuring means and washing means are inputted, and a memoryIC card storing data measured by the optical measuring means. Needlessto say, a single IC card may be so constructed as to work for bothstarting and memory at the same time.

In the invention, a thermostat is provided having a plurality of heatingmembers at predetermined intervals on the bottom of a thermostatic ovenconstituted by a heating medium, and the temperature in the thermostaticoven is made uniform by controlling the heating members separately by atemperature controller.

Further, in the invention, a table holding the reaction cells thereonturn in steps the number of which is one less than the number of thereaction cells held on the table so that the reaction cells will bemoved relative to a fixed point one by one intermittently counter to thedirection in which the table turns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a general construction of anautomatic analyzer according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the construction of the automatic analyzerschematically;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the automatic analyzer;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the automatic analyzer;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing showing a schematic construction of athermostat;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a construction of a heat regulatingunit;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a liquid cooling device;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic cooling unit;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing an example of an array ofan N type semiconductor and a P type semiconductor;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing another example of anarray of an N type semiconductor and a P type semiconductor;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a construction of the automatic analyzer;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory drawing showing one example of an IC card; and

FIG. 14 is an explanatory drawing showing one example of a display on adisplay unit.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings representing one preferred embodiment thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 12, a simple automatic analyzer Aaccording to the invention comprises roughly an analyzing portion V anda controlling portion W.

The analyzing portion V comprises a reaction cell moving device formoving a reaction cell 1 at predetermined timed intervals to a sample(serum) pouring position a, a first reagent pouring position b, a secondreagent pouring/stirring position c, an optical measuring position d andwashing positions e₁ to e₄, a sample container 2 in which a sample to bemeasured is contained in a quantity as required, a sample containermoving device (not shown) for moving the sample container 2 linearly toa sample sucking position f, a sampling pipette means 3 for sucking up anecessary quantity of sample from the sample container 2 and pouring itinto the reaction cell 1, a first reagent pipette means 4 for pouring afirst reagent corresponding to the characteristic to be measured intothe reaction cell 1, a second reagent pipette 5 for pouring a secondreagent corresponding to the characteristic to be measured into thereaction cell 1, a stirring device (not shown) interlocking with thesecond reagent pipette means 5, an optical measuring device 7, a washingdevice 8, a reagent moving device 10 for moving reagent container 9having cells in which the first and second reagents are contained to afirst reagent sucking position g and a second reagent sucking positionh.

On the other hand, the controlling portion W comprises a CPU forcontrolling the drive of the aforementioned devices corresponding to thecharacteristics to be measured, an operation IC card 11 ready forreading and writing, a reader/writer 12 in which the operation IC card11 is installed, a switch assembly 13 for selecting the analyzingcharacteristics of a respective sample, a sequential No. and a specifiedsample No. or sequential No., a display unit 15, a start switch 16, astop switch 17, a reset switch 18, a memory IC card 120 for storinginformation and for reading thereinto and writing out therefrom dataobtained by the optical measuring device 7, a reader/writer 121 in whichthe memory IC card 120 is installed, a printer 19 for printing outmeasured results and so forth. Reference numeral 100 in the drawingsdenotes a double closing cover mounted rotatably on a case body 101,reference numeral 20 in FIG. 3 denotes a sampling pump, 21 denotes afirst reagent pump, 22 denotes a second reagent pump, 23 denotes awashing pump, and 24 in FIG. 4 denotes a main switch.

The reaction cell moving device B moves a plurality (36 in number) ofreaction cells 1 held on a reaction cell table (not shown)intermittently one pitch at a time and successively to requiredpositions for heating up to almost biological temperature (37° C.) underthe control of a thermostatically controlled heater 60 describedhereinafter. The reaction cells 1 move counterclockwise in FIG. 2through a number of positions one less than the number of cells, thusmoving the reaction cells 1 one by one intermittently in the oppositedirection, i.e. clockwise in FIG. 2. A well-known pulse motor is used asthe reaction cell moving means.

The sample containers 2 are held in a sample cassette 30 in two rows of10 or 20 containers all told, and the sample cassette 30 is moved so asto move the axial centers of the containers in succession andintermittently, to the sample sucking position f on the path of swingingmovement of the sampling pipette means 3.

The sample cassette 30 holding the sample containers 2 therein is movedby the sample container moving device consisting of a cross feed means.

As in the case of a well-known sampling pipette, the sampling pipettemeans 3 comprises an arm 32 with its one end journaled on a shaft 31, apipette 33 disposed on the other end of the arm 32, a sampling pump 20connected to the pipette 33 for sucking up the required quantity of asample and to discharge it to the reaction cells 1, a driving device(not shown) for turning the arm 32 from the sample sucking position tothe sample discharging position a and further to a washing position iwith a predetermined timing and then lifting it at each position.

The sample measuring system operates by filling a suction system withwater, sucking in the sample for measurement while isolating it from thewater by a volume of air, then discharging the sample, and washing theinside of the pipette 33 with washing water led therethrough. For suchwashing, the pipette 33 is set at the pipette washing position i, andhence any remainder of the sample sticking on the surface of the pipette33 is washed down at the position i.

The thermostatically controlled heater 60 comprises, as shown in FIG. 5,a heating medium 61 mounted on an oven (not shown) in which a lowerportion of the reaction cells 1 soak, and a constant temperaturecontroller 62 disposed on the heating medium 61.

The constant temperature controller 62 comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, aplurality of temperature detecting elements 63 for detecting temperatureat each position of the heating medium 61, a plurality of heatingelements 64, a temperature control device 65 for controlling the heatingelements 64 according to temperature information obtained through thetemperature detecting elements 63.

Each temperature detecting element 63 is constituted of a thermistor orthe like and a plurality are mounted on a bottom portion of the heatingmedium separately at predetermined intervals.

The temperature information obtained through each temperature detectingelement 63 as a variation of its resistance value is converted intovoltage by a temperature-voltage converter 66, and an output from thetemperature-voltage converter 66 is inputted to the temperature controldevice 65 for controlling voltage and current to the heating elements64. Further, the temperature-voltage converter 66 has its output voltageconverted into a digital value by an A/D converter 67, an output fromthe A/D converter 67 and an output from an input device 68 are processedby an arithmetic operation processing circuit, i.e. a calculator, 69,and the result thus obtained is converted into an analogue value by aD/A converter 67' and inputted to the temperature control device 65.

The aforementioned heating elements 64 are each constituted by a heaterproducing heat generated by a resistance wire. Further, the temperaturecontrol device 65 operates for unifying temperature at each heatermounting position of the heating medium 61 by subjecting each heatingelement 64 to on/off control according to information from thecorresponding temperature detecting element 63.

Therefore, when temperature information corresponding to a settemperature is inputted to the input device 68, the output from theinput device 68 is inputted to the aforementioned arithmetic operationprocessing unit 69, and a corresponding resistance value (for generatinga heating power necessary for liquid to be heated and retained at 37°C.) in each temperature detecting element 63 is obtained according to apredetermined arithmetic expression. On the other hand, a change inresistance value of each temperature detecting element 63 is convertedinto voltage by the temperature-voltage converter 66, converted furtherinto a digital signal by the A/D converter 67, and the digital value isinputted to the arithmetic operation processing unit 69. The arithmeticoperation processing unit 69 operates for the aforementioned arithmeticprocessing according to a conversion coefficient determined by thetemperature-voltage converter 66, the result of the operation is outputto the D/A converter 67', and the D/A converter 67' generates acomparison voltage. That is, the processing unit 69 compares the outputvoltage from the temperature-voltage converter 66 through converter 67with the voltage of the input 68 generating the aforementionedcomparison voltage to the D/A converter 67', the temperature controldevice 65 controls voltage and current to each temperature detectingelement 63 according to the comparison information and the sensedtemperature from elements 63 to heat to the desired temperature, thusheating the liquid in the oven uniformly.

By constructing the heater 60 as described, the temperature distributionin the heater is easily made uniform, and a chemical reaction of thesample with the reagent can be equalized.

The reagent moving device 10 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, thereagent containers 9 each having a cell 9a in which the first reagent iscontained and further cell 9b in which a second reagent is contained, acontainer moving device (not shown) turning and controlling a table 40on which the reagent containers 9 are placed and moving a reagentcorresponding to the item being measured to the first reagent suckingposition g or the second reagent sucking position h, the first reagentpipette 4 for sucking the first reagent as required in quantity frominside the cell 9a at the first reagent sucking position g, the secondreagent pipette 5 for sucking the second reagent as required in quantityfrom inside the cell 9b at the second reagent sucking position h. Thereagent containers 9 disposed on the table 40 are set at predeterminedpositions, and the positions are stored in the CPU. Further, there are aset of 12 reagent containers 9, and when the characteristic to bemeasured changes, one set can be replaced with another set. The reagentsin the reagent containers 9 are cooled down to 10°-12° C. in a liquidcooling device 80.

The liquid cooling device 80 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 7-10, a heatinsulating case 83 circular in plan view which is provided with aplurality of chambers 82 for containing the reagent containers 9radially therein, a cover 84 installed detachably on an upward openingof the heat insulating case 83, an electronic cooling unit 85 disposedin a center cylindrical part 83a of the heat insulating case 83, and afan 86 for forcedly blowing heat generated in the electronic coolingunit 85 out of the unit.

The heat insulating case 83 is constituted by a heat insulatingmaterial, and comb-toothed radiation fins 87 are formed on the chamberside of the center cylindrical part 83a as shown in FIG. 8.

As in the case of the aforementioned heat insulating case 83, the cover84 is circular in plan, an opening 84b communicating with a centralspace 83b of the heat insulating case 83 is formed at the centralportion thereof, and a peripheral wall portion 84a of the opening 84bprojects upward to form a grip. A plurality of openings (not shown)communicating with holes (not shown) for sucking liquid in the reagentcontainers 9 contained in the heat insulating case 3 are provided in thecover 84 at positions corresponding thereto.

The electronic cooling unit 85 is constructed fundamentally, as shown inFIG. 9, of an N-type semiconductor 88 and a P-type semiconductor 89formed of two different materials joined together through metals 81a,81b, 81c, and when DC current is carried from a supply, for example, inthe direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 9, a junction q with themetal 81a becomes cool according to an endothermic effect, and ajunction r with the metals 81b, 81c becomes hot according to a heatingeffect, thus producing the Peltier effect.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, the N-type semiconductor 88 and theP-type semiconductor 89 are arrayed alternately in the circumferentialdirection of the center cylindrical part 83a, the chamber sides of thepair of N-type semiconductor 88 and P-type semiconductor 89 areconnected by the metal 81a, and the metals 81b, 81c are each connectedin DC current flow connection to the center space side of the N-typesemiconductor 88 and the P-type semiconductor 89, thereby producing alow-temperature region on the chamber side through an endothermic effectand a high-temperature region on the center space side.

Another method for arraying the N-type semiconductor 88 and the P-typesemiconductor 89 is shown in FIG. 11, in which the pair of an N-typesemiconductor 88 and a P-type semiconductor 89 are disposedlongitudinally of the center cylindrical part 83a, the chamber sides ofthe pair of the N-type semiconductor 88 and the P-type semiconductor 89are connected through the metal 81a, the metals 81b and 81c areconnected to the center space sides of the N-type semiconductor 88 andthe P-type semiconductor 89 respectively, and a plurality of such setsis arrayed on the center cylindrical part 83a in the circumferentialdirection thereof and then the sets are connected to a current source,thus obtaining a low-temperature region on the chamber side through anendothermic effect and a high-temperature region on the center spaceside.

Needless to say, the Peltier effect is reversible by reversing thedirection in which the DC current flows, and a similar effect will beobtainable from forming the N-type semiconductor 88 and the P-typesemiconductor 89 of an N-type conductor and a P-type conductor,respectively.

The cold thus generated at the junction q is conducted to the chamber 82from the radiation fins 87, and heat generated at the junction r heatsair in the space 83b which is exhausted forcedly outside the coolingdevice, thereby cooling down the liquid in the reagent containers 9contained in the chamber 2 efficiently.

The liquid temperature can be set arbitrarily by regulating the voltageof the DC current. Needless to say, heat generated on the junction r canbe used, for example, for preliminary heating of the sample.

Because the liquid cooling device is constructed as described, anevaporator, a condenser and a long passage for guiding cold air are notrequired, unlike a conventional liquid cooling device, and the devicecan be greatly miniaturized, and cold air can be provided directly atthe cells, thus enhancing the cooling efficiency at the same time.

When the reagent container 9 corresponding to the sample to be analyzedarrives at predetermined reagent sucking positions g, h, the reagentsare transformed into the reaction cells 1 by the first and secondreagent pipettes 4 and 5.

As in the construction of a known pipette device, the first and secondreagent pipettes 4 and 5 comprise arms 42, 52 with one end journaled onshafts 41, 51 and pipettes 43, 53 disposed on the other ends of the arms42, 52, pumps 21, 22 connected to the pipettes 43, 53 for sucking anecessary quantity of the reagent for discharge into the reaction cell1, each having driving device (not shown) for turning the arms 42, 52from the reagent sucking positions g, h to the reagent pouring positionsb, c and further to the washing positions j, k at a predetermined timingand controlling the lifting at each position.

For measuring the reagent, the suction system is filled with water,, thereagent and water are separated from each other by air during suctionand measurement, the reagent only is then discharged, and washing wateris put through the inside thereafter to wash the interior of thepipettes 43, 53. When washing, the pipettes 43, 53 are set at thepipette washing positions j, k, and amounts of the sample and materialsticking to the outer surfaces of the pipettes 43, 53 are washed off atthe positions j, k.

Although not shown, a stirring device is provided on the second reagentpipette 5, moved as the arm 52 is turned, which bubbles the sample inthe reaction cell 1 immediately after the second reagent is transferredthereinto, and is then washed together with the second reagent pipette 5at the pipette washing position k.

The optical measuring device 7 forming the detecting unit or observationmeans is constructed as a diffraction grating system, comprising a lightsource 70, a plurality of light receiving elements 71 for measuringlight irradiated from the light source 70 and passed through thereaction cells 1 and arrayed on a Rowland circle, the aforementioned CPUreceiving the output of the elements and converting the quantity oflight received on the light receiving element 71 corresponding to ameasured material in a reaction cell 1 into voltage and processing thevalue obtained through analysis, and a memory (not shown) for storingthe data. Needless to say, the optical measuring device 7 may be changedinto a wave-length conversion system through a filter.

Accordingly, the optical measuring device 7 operates for measuringcontinuously light passed through all the reaction cells 1 (35 all toldin the illustrated embodiment) from the washing position e₁ to ameasurement finishing position l, thus obtaining a reaction time courseof each reaction cell 1.

The washing device 8 washes the interior of each reaction cell 1 forwhich the optical measuring is finished so that it can be used again byusing a known liquid suction motion and a washing water feed motion.

Known readable/writable IC cards are used for the starting IC card 11for driving and controlling the automatic analyzer A constructed asabove and the memory IC card 120 for storing measured data.

As exemplified in FIG. 13, a data storage 112 on integrated circuit isburied in a card substrate 110, to enable interchanging information withthe reader/writer units 12, 121.

That is, the starting IC card 11 and the memory IC card 120 are providedbasically with light receiving elements 113 buried in the card substrate110 for receiving optical signals according to data signals sent fromthe reader/writer units 12, 121 and transmitting them to the datastorage 112, a light emitting element 114 buried in the card substrate110 for converting data signals generated from the data storage 112 andsending them to the reader/writer units 12, 121, a driving power supply115 for generating driving voltages for the data storage 112 and thelight receiving element 113 buried in the card substrate 110.

The starting IC card 11 and the memory IC card 120 have a CPUconstituting the data storage 112 which is not illustrated, anintegrated circuit forming a data storage part, a plurality of lightreceiving elements 113 consisting of a photo transistor for receiving acrystal oscillation signal sent as an optical signal from thereader/writer units 12, 121, a data input signal and a reset signal, alight emitting element 114 consisting of a light emitting diode forconverting a data output signal from the integrated circuit into anoptical signal and outputting it to the reader/writer units 12, 121, adriving power supply 115 such as a mercury cell or the like arrayedwithin the card substrate 110 formed of a synthetic resin such aspolyester, vinyl chloride or the like at predetermined positions.

The aforementioned integrated circuit is constituted by an E-EPROM(Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) not only readablebut also rewritable electrically, wherein a drive controlling meanscoordinating with a plurality of grouped analysis items is inputted, forexample, for six groups as shown in FIG. 14, and also various data suchas name, registration no., office, post and other information operatorsusing the automatic analyzer A are inputted.

The analysis items may be grouped by dividing only such items as arenecessitated by facilities to install properly into a plurality ofgroups. However, in consideration of the construction of the automaticanalyzer and other factors, it is preferable that the items be groupedby objects of analysis such as hepatic function analysis group such asGOT, GPT and the like, kidney function analysis groups such as BUN,CRNN, UA and the like, or electrolyte analysis groups.

In this case, a particular of the grouped items which can be analyzed bythe starting IC card 11 is indicated together with a sequential no. onthe left side of a display portion as shown in FIG. 14, of a displayunit 90 of the automatic analyzer A, and an analysis group no. and aparticular of examination of the analysis group are indicated on theright side of the display portion. The sequential no. refers to amachine serial number of the sample cell 2, and the sequential no. ofthe sample cells (20 cells in the illustrated embodiment) set on theautomatic analyzer A is indicated vertically. The sequential no. will beselected by turning on a suitable switch in the switch group 13. On theother hand, the analysis group no. and the particular of examination ofthe analysis group indicate which switch of the switch group 13indicates "what" analysis no., i.e. for example, "1" indicates thehepatic function examination group, "3" indicates the kidney functionexamination group and so forth.

Accordingly, if the switch "3" of the switch group 13 is turned on forthe sample of sequential no. 2, then the selected analysis item no. "3"is indicated by the sequential no. "2" of the display portion.

Then, after selection of the analysis item to all the sequential nos. isover and the ensuing work is completed therefor, a start switch 93 isturned on. When the start switch 93 is turned on, each mechanism of ananalyzing portion V operates for carrying out predetermined analyzingwork according to the control signal selected by the switch group 13,the analysis data is sent to the CPU, printed out on the printer 19thereafter, and is inputted to the memory IC card 120 for storagethrough the reader/writer 121.

Then, operation data read by the reader/writer 121 and the operationprocedure of the switch group 13 are inputted in detail to the memory ICcard 120, and the construction is such that the stored data cannotnormally be retrieved from within the reader/writer 121 disposed in theautomatic analyzer A by anyone other than a particular person(maintenance personnel, for example).

The reader/writer units 12, 121 are constructed similarly to a knowncard reader/writer, which are characterized by a construction comprisinga ready access terminal for outputting control signals to the memory ICcard 120 and another ready access terminal for inputting and outputtingoperation data and operation procedure of the switch group 13 to thestarting IC card 11, disposing a reader pack, an IC cardtransmitting/receiving circuit, an arithmetic operation part and a lightsource in the interior, which are not illustrated.

The reader/writer units 12, 121 constructed as above operate foroptically reading operation data inputted to the starting IC card 11 andthe memory IC card 120, setting the switch group 13 of the automaticanalyzer A to a state ready for use according to the read data,inputting measured data obtained through the optical measuring device 7and the operation procedure of the switch group 13 to the starting ICcard 11 and the memory IC card 120.

The automatic analyzer A of the embodiment is set to on (ready) stateonly when the starting IC card 11 and the memory IC card 120 are setnormally in the reader/writer units 12, 121 respectively, when thesubswitch (not shown) which is only an actuating switch of the switchgroup 13 is off. The subswitch is a switch for setting the switch group13 to a ready state only when the starting IC card 11 and the memory ICcard 120 are set at predetermined positions of the reader/writer units12, 121, and further when the operation data read by the reader/writerunits 12, 121 is determined to be proper, and is inputted to the memoryIC card 120 for storage.

The operation of the above-described construction will be described.

First, when the starting IC card 11 with predetermined operation datainputted therein is inserted in the reader/writer 12 through acorresponding card insertion port, the reader/writer 12 irradiates lighton a power pack of the starting IC card 11 from the ight source, therebygenerating an electromotive force in the card power pack. Thus thestarting IC card 11 produces a driving voltage from the electromotiveforce, and all the circuit parts in the starting IC card 11 are set to aready state.

Then, starting data stored in the aforementioned storage feeds anoscillation signal generated from an oscillator of the reader/writer 12to a predetermined light receiving element of the starting IC card 11,and the CPU of the starting IC card 11 is actuated to read out theoperation data from the data storage. The data read by the CPU isconverted into an optical signal by the predetermined light receivingelement and sent to the reader/writer 12. The data sent to thereader/writer 12 is subjected to the necessary data processing in thereader/writer 12, the reader/writer 12 then generates an on actuationsignal of the switch group 13 to the subswitch, and the operation datais inputted to the memory IC card 120 set in the reader/writer 121.

On the other hand, when the switch group 13 is set to a ready state bythe starting IC card 11, the operator manipulates the switch group 13 toinput desired analysis conditions and other such conditions, and theautomatic analyzer A operates to carry out predetermined analysisprocessing according to the inputted operation procedure. However, theoperation procedure by the switch group 13 is also inputtedautomatically in sequence to the memory IC card 120 through thereader/writer 121.

Accordingly, if a fault occurs in the operation of the automaticanalyzer A, the maintenance personnel will set the memory IC card 120extracted from within the reader/writer 121 in a predetermined readerinstalled in another place, dump the data inputted within the memory ICcard 120 to a CRT, printer or the like so that it can be read, thusfinding the cause of fault in the operation of the automatic analyzer Aeasily and quickly.

Next, by actuating the start switch 16, the sample cassette 30 moveseach sample cell 2 to the sucking position f, and the operation ofsucking the sample is carried out by the sampling pipette 3 at thesample sucking position f. The sampling pipette 3 is turned thereafterand discharges the desired quanity of sample into the reaction cell 1.

When the above operation is over, the reaction cell 1 turns 35 pitchescounterclockwise in FIG. 2 and stops, so that each reaction cell 1 is aposition one pitch clockwise from its position in the preceding stoppedcondition in FIG. 2. Thus each reaction cell 1 turns through 35 pitchescounterclockwise in FIG. 2 for every discharge of a sample into a cell,i.e. every 20 seconds, and then stops.

When a reaction cell 1 arrives at the first reagent pouring position bon the reaction cell moving device, the reagent table 40 is controlledfor rotation synchronously therewith, the reagent cell 9a containing afirst reagent corresponding to the characteristic to be measured ismoved to the reagent sucking position g, a desired quantity of the firstreagent is then sucked up and discharged into the reaction cell 1 whichhas arrived at the first reagent pouring position b.

After that, the reaction cell 1 is moved to the second reagentpouring/stirring position c, the reagent table 40 is controlled forrotation in concert therewith, the reagent cell 9b containing a secondreagent corresponding to the characteristic to be measured is moved tothe second reagent sucking position h, a desired quantity of the secondreagent is sucked up by the second reagent pipette 5, discharged intothe reaction cell 1, and is then bubbled by the stirring device.

Next, the aforementioned reaction cell 1 is moved successively by thereaction cell moving device B, and crosses the light beam of the opticalmeasuring device 7 once during every 35-pitch rotation counterclockwisein FIG. 2, so that optical measurements are carried out over the courseof the reaction time in each reaction cell 1.

The reaction cell 1 for which the optical measuring work is completed asdescribed is then moved to the washing device 8, and after apredetermined washing is performed therefor, it is again moved to thesample pouring position a.

The analysis value obtained as described above is subjected to dataprocessing in the CPU, printed out on the printer 19, and is theninputted to the memory IC card 120. If the analysis processing issuspended during the course of being carried out, a stop switch 17 isturned on, and when using the next starting IC card 11, a reset switch18 is turned on.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where a contactless opticalcard is used as the IC card is described. However, the invention is notnecessarily limited thereto, and an IC card of the contact type, forexample, can also be used.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the case where one group isselected from among a plurality of analysis groups by an item switch 14is described. However, a single item such as GOT, GPT, ZTT or the likemay be selected.

Still further, the invention may be constructed so that the automaticanalyzer may be controlled and the measuring data may also be stored byan IC card or magnetic card of large capacity instead of inputtingoperator's information and control signals and storing measuring dataall on two IC cards.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described in detail above, according to the invention, a desiredanalysis can be selected from an IC card, and an item corresponding tothe sample can be selected by operating switches on/off accordingly, andhence the operation is extremely simplified, the system can generally beconstructed simply and compactly as well, a simple automatic analyzerwhich is trouble-free and moderate in cost can thus be provided, andtherefore an automatic analyzer complying with requirements of hospitalsand clinics can be provided at low cost.

I claim:
 1. A multi-item automatic analyzer which comprises:a reactioncell table holding a plurality of reaction cells; means for repetitivelyrotating said table for moving each cell from a sampling positionsuccessively through a reagent dispensing position and an opticalmeasuring position to a washing position; a sampling mechanism at saidsampling position for placing a sample to be analyzed into a reactioncell; a reagent dispensing mechanism at said reagent dispensing positionfor dispensing a reagent into a reaction cell; an optical measuringmechanism at said optical measuring position for making opticalmeasurements of samples in the reaction cells passing said opticalmeasuring position; a washing mechanism at said washing position forwashing reaction cells; a control device connected to said tablerotating means, said sampling mechanism, said reagent dispensingmechanism, said optical measuring mechanism and said washing mechanismfor operating said means and said mechanisms for carrying out a desiredanalysis on the respective samples in the respective reaction cells; aninitiating IC card processing means for reading a predetermined analysisoperation for a particular sample to be analyzed which has been storedon an initiating IC card which is insertable into said initiating ICcard processing means; a memory IC card processing means for recordingdata on a memory IC card which is insertable into said memory IC cardprocessing means; said initiating IC card processing means beingconnected to said control device for causing said control device tocontrol said table rotating means and said mechanisms to carry out thepredetermined analysis and being connected to said memory IC cardprocessing means for recording the predetermined analysis operation on amemory IC card; and said memory IC card processing means further beingconnected to said control device and said optical measuring means forrecording the actual analysis operation carried out by said analyer andthe results of the optical measurements on the same memory IC card.
 2. Amulti-item automatic analyzer as claimed in claim 1 in which saidreagent dispensing mechanism comprises means for holding a plurality ofreagent containers and moving said containers along a path to a reagentpicking up position, means for picking up a predetermined amount ofreagent from a reagent container at said picking up position anddispensing it into a reaction cell, and a constant temperature bath inwhich said reagent containers are immersed as they move along said path,said constant temperature bath having a heat transfer element along thebottom of the bath, at least two heating elements at intervals along thebottom of said heat transfer element, and temperature control means forcontrolling the temperature of said heating elements for maintaining thetemperature in said bath at a predetermined desired temperature.
 3. Amulti-item automatic analyzer as claimed in claim 1 in which said tablerotating means comprises rotational control means for directing therotation of said table at each rotation thereof for moving a particularcell from a starting position through a substantially complete rotationof said table to move the particular cell to a position spaced one cellposition in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of saidtable from the starting position, whereby as successive rotations of thetable are carried out, the cells progressively move one cell position ata time in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said table.